The Ottawa Senators have signed another of their top prospects to an entry level contract. They announced on Tuesday that Chicoutimi Saguenéens starting goalie Lucas Beckman has agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The 18-year-old is currently making hay in the QMJHL playoffs, posting a smooth 8-0 record with an outrageous .962 save percentage and a 0.75 goals against. He allowed just one goal in each of his first six games, then two shutouts in the last two outings as the Saguenéens polished off the Québec Remparts in a sweep.
To say that his December trade from Baie-Comeau to Chicoutimi has served Beckman well would be a ridiculous understatement. Since the trade, the Montreal native has lost just one game, going 21-1 in regular season and playoffs combined. Meanwhile, the Drakkar, the team he spent parts of three seasons with, finished dead last in the league.
Beckman was selected in the 4th round (97th overall) by the Senators in the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles. He's likely to get some attention from Hockey Canada's radar for the World Juniors this Christmas.
At the Sens development camp last summer, Beckman was excited to experience the higher level, which he expected would help him this season.
"The shots here are coming a lot quicker, the speed is better, and I think it means that when I go back to junior, it's going to feel a bit more slow motion (by comparison), and I'm going to be able to kind of be ahead of the play more," Beckman said.
Beckman also told The Hockey News that he had a specific goal for this season.
"My personal goal would be to be the best goalie in the Q," Beckman said. "That might sound a little overconfident, but I think I'm able to. We'll see."
So far, so good.
Beckman is the fifth Sens prospect in the past month to sign his ELC. The others are Blake Montgomery (F, Wisconsin), Hoyt Stanley (D, Cornell), Kevin Reidler (G, Penn State, and Gabriel Eliasson (D, Barrie).
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Utah Jazz on April 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For years, LeBron James and Marcus Smart have shared the court. However, it’s often been on opposing sides.
Smart, a longtime Celtic, faced off against James when he was a Cavalier for countless regular-season games and in the postseason during the 2010s.
Cleveland got the better of Boston during those battles, winning the Eastern Conference four times in the decade.
During the summer, Smart joined the Lakers, and now the two foes have become teammates. They’ve gotten their first taste of playoff glory as members of the purple and gold as they beat the Rockets to win Game 1 of their opening round series.
After the win, Smart spoke about loving playing alongside LeBron James after years on the other side.
“It’s been great,” Smart said. “Being able to see why he’s considered one of the greatest to do it. The way that he prepares for the playoffs, it’s a whole different mentality for him than the regular season. We see it, you guys see it, but as a teammate, to be able to be there watching him get prepared, watching the things he’s doing to get himself ready, I’m glad I’m on his side this time.”
As a 12-year veteran, Smart knows what a winning mentality looks like. He exudes it every day, in every way possible, through his on-court play, practice regimen and media appearances.
Obviously, he understood that LeBron has this too, but now he is seeing it up close, in a way only a teammate can. With Luka and Austin Reaves out, the duo has become two of the most important leaders on the team.
Considering that LeBron is an All-Star in his own right, and Smart is a defensive initiator, this is a great pairing to have as the playoffs begin.
They’ve already proven they can have success together at this level by winning Game 1. They’ll look to continue stacking up victories during the rest of the NBA playoffs, and this time, they’ll do it together.
Because it was Luka Doncic who was the one playfully hitting Hachimura on the back of the head. NBAE via Getty ImagesDoncic (left hamstring), along with fellow star guard Austin Reaves (left oblique), may continue to be sidelined. NBAE via Getty Images
“Hmm…I don’t remember,” Hachimura said. “He always does that stuff. I probably don’t even think about it. I’m used to it, probably. I don’t remember that.”
But the group is benefitting from both of them being around as they work their way back to a hopeful return to the court.
“Obviously, helping out guys on the bench, just watching the game from that view, you can see different things you don’t see when you’re necessarily in the game,” Jaxson Hayes said. “And so they’re able to tell guys that stuff and just help out as much as possible.”
#Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said he does not remember this interaction with Luka Doncic at the end of Game 1 in the first round series between the #Rockets and #LakeShow.
He said it’s probably because Luka does this stuff all the time. He noted it’s fun having him back at… pic.twitter.com/FgZUig4JYg
Reaves has remained with the team since suffering his injury.
Doncic returned to Southern California on Friday after spending the previous two weeks in Europe while receiving special treatment on his hamstring with the hopes it could expedite his healing process and help him return to the court sooner.
He arrived at the Lakers’ home arena on Saturday about 40 minutes before tipoff and was at the Lakers’ practice on Monday.
Doncic and Reaves haven’t spoken with reporters since their injuries.
“It’s been really nice,” coach JJ Redick said on Monday. “[Doncic] definitely rebounded and passed in some shooting drills. Having the group together two out of the last three days has been really nice.”
Doncic returned to Southern California on Friday after spending the previous two weeks in Europe NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic was back at it again on Monday afternoon during the Lakers’ practice ahead of Tuesday’s Game 2 in Los Angeles, this time playing “rock, paper, scissors” with Reaves after Reaves shot free throws with Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia.
Reaves won.
Hayes shared that Doncic has been calling him his Slovenian brother after Hayes received his Slovenian passport, which makes him eligible to play on national team with Doncic.
“I think people don’t know how much impact Luka has, not only on the court, but off the court,” Hachimura said. “He’s a guy that always wants to be around. We love him just being around, just hanging out, talking. We’re happy that he’s back finally. He’s [always] doing funny things. We missed him for sure.”
The juxtaposition of Doncic’s light-hearted nature with his fiery on-court persona (which can also turn jovial in certain moments) is a characteristic the Lakers have seen more of this season.
“Just messing around with the coaches and the players and just the normal things you guys see on the camera, probably,” Hachimura said of Doncic’s antics. “It’s just a normal thing for him.”
Doncic and Reaves haven’t spoken with reporters since their injuries. Getty Images
What’ll feel more normal is if/when Doncic is able to get back on the court for the Lakers.
Redick has stated multiple times that their goal is to extend the season long enough for Doncic and Reaves to play at some point during the playoffs.
“We’re gonna try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point,” Redick said last week. “We don’t know what that is, and that’s just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”
But until that happens, the Lakers are just happy to have Doncic and shenanigans back around the group.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench before a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Suns in the postseason, overcoming expectations many set, discussions about the team’s offseason plans have already sparked social media chatter. This is all related to a recent post from one of the most cryptic NBA superstars, who is suspected to be on the move this offseason. That player would be Giannis Antetokounmpo, the one who dethroned the Suns in their 2021 Finals run. So why would Suns fans want this, and how does this conversation even take off?
Well, from Antetokounmpo’s post, you can see why it has been such a topic of discussion.
Year 13 ✅📖
This has been one of the toughest seasons of my career, but as they say, like a phoenix from the ashes, I’ll rise.💯
To the city of Milwaukee, MY city, thank you for the unwavering love and support. 🤎 pic.twitter.com/27d6VLLI6o
A lot of Suns fans have specifically picked out the top part as some signal or message about his preferred destination: “Like a phoenix from the ashes, I’ll rise,” says Antetokounmpo, and this is what has everyone asking whether the Suns should pull the trigger.
To that, I say hold your horses for many reasons. One for the fact that the Suns are still currently in the postseason and have had the year they have had. Let’s appreciate the good things and all the great feelings we have had from this season, and not worry about the next. That happens when the Suns are losing, and in a tough spot, and right now, even if they are slated to lose to OKC in the playoffs, it is not a losing season.
Secondly, we are talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo. The same man who, this season, was annoying with his quotes about his situation in Milwaukee, clearly wanting out and not wanting to be the bad guy, put him in situations that led to some hilarious comments all season long. This is not a charade I want going on around the Suns, especially after all that drama last year.
Why are we going to integrate the fanbase into some more toxicity? Plus, who is to say Giannis wants to go to Phoenix, right? This quote says nothing beyond the fact that Giannis might like it. This is not a set-in-stone thing, so fans should not be planning as if it is already going to happen.
Then you can look at how this would get done for Phoenix. Yes, we all know the Bucks were interested in Jalen Green at the trade deadline, but you had to give up more as well. With Phoenix just escaping the apron hell, are you really willing to go back into that? Do the Suns even have the draft capital to get this done? Do they have to move young guys like Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach to sweeten the deal because of their lack of draft capital?
The Bucks would need Phoenix’s young players. Is that worth it for Giannis’ large contract? Trying to get to $58M in salary is going to be tough for Phoenix unless it includes Jalen Green and two of Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, or Royce O’Neale with the young guys.
For what? The team to have Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with no one around them. Just like the other star-based teams we have had to watch over the last couple of seasons. I am good.
This new identity of everyone playing team basketball and working as a unit is fun, and I am not sacrificing that for a cool two-way duo. Yes, they would be unstoppable, but with both of them having injury histories and not getting younger, are we sure this is the way the Suns should build? Chasing another championship, and if they come up short, then what? Wait for another rebuild?
There are too many questions and possibilities for me to move forward with this, especially when we still have this season to discuss. Let’s appreciate what we have and worry about the offseason and the future with the young guys we have and the pieces we have grown this season.
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars are still without injured top-line center Roope Hintz, who stayed home Tuesday when the team traveled to Minnesota for Game 3 of its Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Hintz hasn't played since sustaining a lower-body injury on March 6 in a game against Colorado and experiencing an unspecified setback in his recovery.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan previously said Hintz was unlikely to play in Game 3 on Wednesday night, and it now appears the center's earliest possible return could be Game 5 when the series switches back to Dallas next week.
“He's not traveling. Like I said, Game 3, won't be there. Game 4 (on Saturday), I would say is very doubtful,” Gulutzan said before boarding the team flight. “Hopefully by the time we get back, we're in a good spot, and he's in a good spot.”
Gulutzan had said between Games 1 and 2 that Hintz hadn't even returned to skating on his own.
The 29-year-old Hintz, in his eighth NHL season, played for bronze medal-winning Finland and then missed the Stars' first four games after the Olympic break because of an illness. He got hurt in his only game since, 6 1/2 weeks ago against the Avalanche.
Hintz remained down and reached at the back of his left leg after being engaged with Nathan MacKinnon along the boards in the second period. Hintz put no weight on his leg while being helped off the ice.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 14: Right fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves bats during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins on April 14, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
No worries, Ronald Acuña Jr. hasn’t gone anywhere. Also, Eli White returns to the starting lineup in an outfield corner.
Usually, I do a batter-versus-pitcher thing, but there’s not much to do here. Foster Griffin made one MLB appearance in 2020 and six more in 2022, and then went to Japan. No one in this lineup has ever faced him at the major league level.
The Nationals roll out a similar-ish lineup to yesterday. Jorbit Vivas takes over at third for Brady House, and a bunch of spots are correspondingly reshuffled around the 1-2-4 enscocement of James Wood, Luis Garcia Jr., and CJ Abrams. Six of these guys (not Vivas, Daylen Lile, or Nasim Nunez) have actually faced Lopez before, but none have more than seven PAs. Their collective line is a .271 wOBA and .318 xwOBA in 27 PAs, with CJ Abrams once hitting a go-ahead 0-2 homer off Lopez back in 2024.
Here’s a weird thing: this will be the first time Jacob Young has hit third in his career. Also, the Braves have only used 12 different batting orders through 23 games so far, but this will be a new one, as White hasn’t yet hit ninth this season.
The first few days of the NHL playoffs have been outstanding, which will only provide Gary Bettman another bullet for his “best first round in sports” talking point he uses when people complain about the current division-focused playoff structure.
Thus far, we’ve had a double overtime, several one-goal games that went down to the wire, a couple big late comebacks and Pittsburgh losing both opening games at home — each a totally fun thing in its own way!
Tonight there are four games on the schedule AND an Islanders playoff game…AHL Bridgeport Islanders, of course.
Here’s a thread for all the action, including if you’re following along for Bridgeport’s Last Ride. So many years where Hershey was dominant, it’s nice to have Bridgeport with home advantage and a decent chance to win a mini-round in their finale season.
The Detroit Pistons attempt to hold home court in Game 2 after a surprising Game 1 loss to the Orlando Magic, 112-101.
Detroit has now lost 10-straight playoff home games, but are large favorites in Game 2. The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham's 39 points, but only he and Tobias Harris (17) scored more than eight points for Detroit.
All five starters for Orlando scored 16 or more points with the Magic's bench accumulating 20 total points. The Magic led at the end of each quarter and put up remarkable numbers for a road team in Game 1, except for their three-point shooting (10/34, 29%), which will need to improve as the series goes on.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time: 7:10 PM EST
Site: Little Caesars Arena
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
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Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-410), Orlando Magic (+320)
Spread: Pistons -8.5
Total: 218.5 points
This game opened Pistons -9.5 with the Total set at 218.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons
Orlando Magic
PG Jalen Suggs
SG Desmond Bane
SF Franz Wagner
PF Paolo Banchero
SF Wendell Carter Jr.
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic
Orlando Magic
Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 2
Detroit Pistons
None
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 44-39 ATS
Detroit is 21-20 ATS as the home team
Detroit is 44-38-1 to the Under
Detroit is 18-14 to the Under as a home favorite
Detroit is 22-19 to the Under as the home team
Orlando is 40-45 ATS
Orlando is 19-22 ATS as the road team
Orlando is 45-40 to the Over
Orlando is 21-20 to the Under as the road team
Orlando is 12-10 to the Over as the road underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -8.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 218.5
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Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) walks back to the dugout after flying out against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Listen, there is no good introduction to this other than to just give you a trigger warning because if you read on, you will see the worst meter you have ever laid your eyes upon. And once you lay your eyes upon it, you will not be able to unsee it. I can’t.
I don’t need to rehash for you why the meter looks like this. The Mets have lost 11 straight games. They only have one win in the time period encompassed by this meter. They are last in baseball in runs scored. The only two guys in the lineup with a pulse at the moment are Francisco Alvarez and a guy they just brought up six days ago.
So to serve as your buffer and make it so that you have to scroll down a bit to actually see the meter for the sake of your own mental health, I will include this image to serve as the introduction to the meter instead of more developed thoughts.
Okay here’s the actual meter (you were warned).
Player
Last week
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Ronny Mauricio, INF
—
MJ Melendez, OF
—
Tommy Pham, OF
—
Jorge Polanco, 1B/DH
Luis Robert Jr., OF
Marcus Semien, 2B
Tyrone Taylor, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Jared Young, 1B/OF
Before we get into the really ugly, horrible weeds of this, we’ll start out with some logistics. Jared Young, who had actually been doing pretty well with the bat, hit the injured list before the Dodgers series with a torn meniscus, which will unfortunately sideline him for quite some time. After much hemming and hawing, Jorge Polanco was placed on the injured list as well retroactive to April 15 with a right wrist contusion; in theory he will miss less time.
The Mets called up Hayden Senger to take Polanco’s roster spot, but Senger has yet to appear in a game so he does not appear on this meter. Presumably the decision to roster a third catcher—other than the fact that the Mets have very few options right now—is rooted in their desire to be able to DH Francisco Alvarez sometimes, since he is the only regular actually hitting. Alvarez has posted a 120 wRC+ over 39 plate appearances in the past couple of weeks. He leads the team in walks with six. Only one of his eight hits went for extra bases, but that hit was a home run. The Mets have not yet opted to DH Alvarez since Senger was called up and that might partially be because Luis Torrens has just two hits in his last 11 plate appearances.
When Young was placed on the injured list, the Mets recalled outfielder MJ Melendez from Triple-A. Other than Alvarez, Melendez is the only other Mets hitter to receive a positive grade this week. As you may recall, he was a candidate for King of Spring Training this year and he has carried that momentum into the regular season, maybe in part because he does not yet have the stink of the team’s bad vibes on him. He has collected five hits and two walks in 16 plate appearances, including a home run in Sunday’s game which represented the Mets’ only run in their most recent loss.
It’s hard to imagine Melendez losing his spot on the roster when any of the injured Mets return—starting with Juan Soto tomorrow. Senger will likely be the first to be sent down, but it’s hard to imagine Tommy Pham, who was called up on April 13, is long for this roster, even as haggard as it is. Pham is hitless in eight plate appearances so far and struck out in half of them, looking very much like a guy who doesn’t belong in the big leagues right now. Pham replaced Ronny Mauricio on the roster when he was called up. Mauricio was briefly recalled when Juan Soto first hit the injured list, had his one heroic walk-off moment in four plate appearances, and then was sent back down.
Speaking of guys that don’t look like they belong in the big leagues right now, that unfortunately applies to Carson Benge as well. Benge has put up a 38 wRC+ in 36 plate appearances over these last 12 games and looks overmatched. He has six hits over that span—one double and five singles. He has scored two runs and walked three times, but did not drive in any runs and struck out seven times. But to be fair to Benge, he is far from alone in his struggles.
Brett Baty and Mark Vientos join Benge, Pham, and Torrens in the poop emoji brigade and those two are arguably the poopiest of all. Ever since we all wondered if we were perhaps witnessing the resurrection of Mark Vientos, he has put up an almost incomprehensible -50 wRC+ in 34 plate appearances. He hit one very cool moonshot in Chicago that looked like he may be showing signs of life, but that’s one of just two hits he’s had since our last meter and that is not enough to save him from the poop. Baty’s wRC+ in the past two weeks is also a negative number (-2). Baty has five hits—four of them singles—and three RBIs in 35 plate appearances. He has walked just once and struck out a whopping eleven times, which leads the team. Both Baty and Vientos have also had challenges defensively.
Bo Bichette matches Baty’s 11 strikeouts to lead the team, which says something about how things are going for him. Unlike Baty and Vientos, his defense at third base has been much better lately and he’s actually made a few really spectacular plays in the past couple of weeks, but unfortunately his poor hitting is more memorable as part of the Mets’ collective ineptitude at the plate. Bichette’s 73 wRC+ is sadly actually one of the better marks in the regular starting lineup, which demonstrates how bleak things have really been. His 11 hits are second on the team and he’s one of just two Mets with double-digit hits in the past two weeks, which again says more about the lineup that it does about Bichette.
Francisco Lindor is the team leader in hits with 13. Normally being the team leader in hits for a given meter would be close to an automatic positive grade, but even with leading the team in hits, Lindor holds a mediocre 70 wRC+ over the past 12 games (50 plate appearances). Ten of those 13 hits were singles, which is not ideal. Lindor leads the team in runs scored with five (lol) and has recently been dropped to third in the lineup in an attempt to bolster run production, but he has just one RBI over the past 12 games—the result of a solo homer.
Luis Robert Jr. is with Bichette and Lindor in the “mediocre, but not absolutely terrible” category with a 73 wRC+ in 44 plate appearances. Early on, when the Mets were still winning once in awhile, Robert was one of their hottest hitters, but he has cooled off significantly. He has eight hits in the past 12 games—5 singles, two doubles, and a home run. He is still also taking the occasional walk; he has walked four times in those 44 plate appearances. But he also has struck out 11 times to match Bichette and Baty for the team lead.
Marcus Semien is another player whose arrow turns upside down from green to red. After his very slow start, Semien perked up a bit right in time to get a positive grade for his very first meter, but he has not been very productive since. He posted an ugly 41 wRC+ in 45 plate appearances since our last meter. Of his nine hits, just one went for extra bases. He scored a run, drove in two, and walked twice. He also stole a base—something the Mets aren’t doing much because they aren’t getting on base all that much. Lindor, Benge, and Baty each also have one steal since our last meter and no one on the team has more than one.
Juan Soto’s absence has meant more playing time for Tyrone Taylor and he has been…okay. He has four hits—three singles and a double—and a walk in 17 plate appearances, good for an 87 wRC+. He’s scored a run and driven in two runs while playing his usual solid outfield defense.
One of the only good things about watching a tanking team is seeing players develop from definite L’s in the loss column to becoming real assets on a playoff team. The 2025-26 Utah Jazz team had its fair share of young talent improve over the course of 82 games, as well as surprising vets that stepped up big time.
Let’s take a look at the three players that improved the most from last season.
Note: I will only be using players who also played for the Jazz in 2024-25, so while Jusuf Nurkic was somebody that definitely upped his stock, he will not be on this list.
This might come as a shock to some, but in the thick of the Jazz’s (purposeful) worst season in franchise history, Markkanen had a very bad season. I though this year was massive for him to prove that he can be the player on a Jazz playoff team that everybody thought he could one day be.
When Markkanen arrived in Utah, he was this seven-foot beast that could knock down threes, but would also drive and dunk with incredible efficiency. He was an all star starter in year one and was named the league’s most improved player, but by year three it seemed like that version of Lauri might be gone. He averaged six less points a game, shot five percent worse from deep, took more threes and less twos. His game was reduced to catch-and-shoot, which was frustrating knowing that he could be an efficient paint scorer.
But this season, all my faith in Markkanen has been restored. His shot selection was a lot more diverse, taking five more 2-point attempts per game while still being knockdown from 3-point range. There were times this season before the Jazz went full-fledged tank mode, where I looked at the duo of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George and thought, “Hey, this is something real.” Combine his play with the fact that Utah kept its first round pick, and the decision to not trade Lauri paid off tenfold.
We were in dangerous territory with Cody Williams early in the season. Like maybe “worst player in the league” territory. Maybe, dare I say, “worst Jazz draft pick ever” territory. But patience proved powerful, as Williams now seems like he can be a real player in the NBA, which can’t be said for many of his 2024 draft peers.
His overall season stats don’t jump out, but after New Year’s, he became an impact player in Utah. In 21 starts in March and April he averaged 15.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Now, you can chalk that up to garbage, late-season stat inflation, but what fun would that be?
Even NBA insider Zach Lowe made it a point to talk about Williams’ play on his podcast.
“I think Cody Williams — who looked like an epic bust of a top-10 pick… has shown enough in the last couple of months that I think there’s a world in which he’s a functional eighth to tenth guy on a good Utah Jazz team. His defense is really improved. He’s a solid defender. He knows how to close out on guys short, he knows how to run guys off the arc, he’s extremely well balanced,“
So while Williams might not be on the same level as the other two players on this list, his improvement from year one to year two should be seen as a resounding success.
Keyonte George was benched for Isaiah Collier last season. Let that sink in.
In the offseason, George was probably the most polarizing player on the Jazz, with (from my perspective) more people being out on the once inefficient point guard from Baylor
In just one year he has made himself a franchise cornerstone, and had it not been for a stacked western conference, he would have made an all star team. No doubt about it. The Jazz do not make the franchise-altering trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. if George had not taken this step in year three.
His shot selection in 2025-26 was drastically better than that of his sophomore campaign. He shot less threes per game, 3.5 more 2-point attempts per game, and got to the line 2.7 more times as well. A big knock on George going into the season was his lack of finishing and his lack of creating contact in the paint, even though he was able to get there with ease. This season, the perceived “fear” he had of the paint greatly diminished.
What I think can best sum up George’s rise in the NBA’s hierarchy this season was his two-game stretch against the Pistons and Spurs in December, a stretch in which the Jazz won both games. In these two games, George averaged 29.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists, and against the Pistons he hit the game-winning floater over the outstretched arms of Jalen Duren. In two games against Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama, it was George who came out on top. It was George who was the best player on the court.
I foresee a Tyrese Maxey level ascension for George in the near future. Maybe it won’t be this very next season, but George is the real deal, and can 100% be an all-NBA guy in his career. That is not something that I thought in September.
Ten years on from lifting the Premier League trophy, Leicester have been relegated to League One after a 2-2 draw with Hull confirmed back-to-back relegations for the club.
The result leaves the Foxes, who were deducted six points in February for a financial rules breach, seven points adrift of fourth-bottom Blackburn with just two games to play and destined for the third tier for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
The Chicago Cubs (13-9) won Game 1 of the four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-1. Today is the second as both teams continue to trend in different directions.
Chicago has won six-straight games and outscored their opponents, 44-14, in that span. The Cubs are hitting .293 over the past week, ranking second with the sixth-most homers (8), but the pitching staff has been on fire with a 1.76 ERA.
Philadelphia is riding a six-game losing streak and has been outscored 42-10 during this span. The Phillies have also dropped three-straight road games. In the last week, Philadelphia ranks fourth-worst in ERA (5.73) and the second-worst batting average (.173).
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the information and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest details on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats and of course, our predictions, picks and best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details and how to watch Phillies at Cubs
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team statistics and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for Phillies vs. Cubs
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (-131), Philadelphia Phillies (+109)
Spread: Cubs -1.5 (+159), Phillies +1.5 (-194)
Total: 8.5
Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Cubs
Tuesday's pitching matchup (April 21): Jesus Luzardo vs. Shota Imanaga
The Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto is hitting .280 with 14 hits, 19 total bases and one home run over 50 at-bats
The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .133 with 10 hits, 14 strikeouts and 6 walks over 75 at-bats
The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is hitting .322 with 28 hits, 44 total bases and 21 RBIs over 87 at-bats
The Cubs’ Michael Busch is hitting .169 with 13 hits, 18 strikeouts, and 10 walks over 77 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Cubs
The Cubs are 10-12 ATS this season
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 4-18 ATS this season
The Cubs are 12-9-1 to the Over this season
The Phillies are 10-11-1 to the Over this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks and predictions for tonight’s game between Phillies and Cubs
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Phillies and the Cubs.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after closing out the game 2-1 between the Los Angeles Angels and the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 19, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an 8-0 shellacking by the Los Angeles Angels in Game 1, the San Diego Padres wasted no time continuing their winning ways. They took Game 2 of the series, 4-1, and followed it up on Sunday with a narrow 2-1 victory in the series finale.
Michael King looked his usually dominant self, pitching five innings of one-hit ball. He had a problem with his command, giving up four walks, but he was able to get out of each jam he got himself into.
The Friars managed to put together just enough runs to win the game, scoring a run apiece in the fourth and seventh innings. Kyle Hart pitched in relief and gave up the lone Angels run of the game. But San Diego managed to hold it together as Mason Miller slammed the door in the ninth, earning his MLB-leading eighth save.
The Padres had a major power outage in Anaheim after mashing 10 moonshots in their recent homestand. They scored zero runs via the long ball and only managed to scratch six runs together but still won the series.
San Diego will face the Colorado Rockies tonight and hope that the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field will help spark an offense that went dormant over the weekend.
Taking the mound
Chase Dollander (COL) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)
Dollander has been used more as a bulk relief pitcher for the Rockies. His 2026 has been much better than 2025, and that’s in large part because of the way Colorado has deployed him. He’s pitched to a 3.32 ERA across 19 innings.
Colorado will likely start the game with one of their relievers for the first inning before giving the game over to Dollander. He pitched quite well against San Diego in their series against the Rox last week (2 ER, 5.1 IP). If Dollander can limit the Friars in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, San Diego may struggle early against him.
Vásquez finally looked human his last time on the mound. He gave up four runs across four innings to the Seattle Mariners, but the Friars still managed to win the game with some late-inning magic. He still leads the Padres’ starting rotation in ERA with a fantastic 2.49 mark.
The Padres swept the Rox last week in a four-game set, and Vásquez dominated Colorado his last time facing them. He gave up only one run in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
If Vásquez can do the same against the Colorado lineup this time around, the Friars will have no problems sweeping the Rox again. Doing that in Denver will be difficult with the hitter-friendly environs of Coors Field, but if any Padre can, it’s Vásquez.
Batter up!
After Jake Cronenworth got hit in the face by a pitch on Saturday night, he was out of the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Halos. He’ll likely be back in the lineup for tonight’s matchup.
With the off day yesterday, the regular starters will likely be out in full force against Colorado:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Nick Castellanos, DH
Freddy Fermin, C
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Castellanos could get a start in the DH slot after being on the bench for awhile. He hasn’t played in the last two games and could see time in today’s series opener.
Relief corps
With King pitching a solid five innings, the Padres used four relievers (three low-leverage options) in Ron Marinaccio, Kyle Hart, Bradgley Rodriguez and Miller.
Miller extended his scoreless streak to 32 2/3 innings, putting him an inning away from the franchise record set by Cla Meredith.
That leaves Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, David Morgan and Wandy Peralta available for tonight’s game. That being said, with the off day yesterday, it’s likely that everyone will be available to pitch. But certainly those four will be first out of the ‘pen after Vásquez’s start.
The Mets are officially shaking things up with their starting rotation, as they will be bringing up Christian Scott to start Thursday's series finale against the Twins.
The team will stick with a five-man rotation for now, Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday, and they'll keep Kodai Senga in the mix while David Peterson will remain in the bullpen this time around.
With Scott taking his turn Thursday, Senga will be bumped back to start Saturday against the Rockies.
Both he and Peterson, of course, have struggled mightily in the early-going.
Senga's ERA has quickly risen to 8.83 for the season after allowing a combined 14 runs (13 earned) on 14 hits and a pair of walks in just 5.2 innings of work over his past two outings.
Peterson looked strong serving as the bulk reliever behind Tobias Myers on Sunday in Chicago, but he'd given up four or more runs in each of his previous three appearances before that.
Scott, on the other hand, has pitched extremely well for Syracuse of late.
The right-hander has found his footing after a rough first outing of the season, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out 12 batters over his last two starts.
This will be Scott's first big-league outing since July 21, 2024.
"The way Scotty's been throwing the ball in the minors, we knew it was just going to be a matter of time before he was going to be helping us -- here we are giving him that opportunity, he earned it and we're excited," Mendoza said.
Scott showed flashes of his potential during his first cup of coffee in the majors, pitching to a 4.56 ERA with 39 strikeouts in his first nine outings before requiring the season-ending surgery.
Minter taking next step
A.J. Minter appears set to take another step on his rehab this week, as he'll join Syracuse on Wednesday.
Minter made his first two appearances back with Low-A St. Lucie earlier this month, then he jumped up to High-A Brooklyn, where he made a pair of outings over the weekend.
The southpaw has allowed just one unearned run while striking out three to this point.
Mendoza said that he still another couple of weeks of rehab games before he's ready to rejoin the club, but everything has been trending positively to this point in his progression.
Minter, of course, is working his way back from lat surgery that cost him the majority of last year.
On Tuesday morning, it was announced that former NHL sniper Ilya Kovalchuk was named President of the Shang Hai Dragons of the KHL. Joining him as General Manager of the club is another former NHLer Evgeny Artyukhin.
The Dragons, formerly known as the Kunlun Red Star have entered a new era in their franchise as they look to improve off of a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
In the most recent season, the Dragon went 21-35-6-6 finishing 9th place in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs by 15 points. Former Los Angeles King Ilya Kovalchuk looks to build a team that can compete with the powerhouses of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers with the 1st overall pick in the 2001 NHL draft, Kovalchuk was one of the most entertaining players to watch during his time in the league. He also has the title of one of the most interesting NHL careers in recent history.
After eight and a half years with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk was traded to the New Jersey Devils in a massive deal that shook the hockey world in 2010. The former Rocket Richard leader then signed an egregious 17-year deal worth $102M. The deal was rejected by the NHL and Kovalchuk and the Devils agreed on a new 15-year deal worth $100M.
Just four years into the contract that was supposed to last for a decade and a half, Kovalchuk shockingly retired from the NHL, walking away from the remaining 12 years and $77M on his contract. He would go on to play in the KHL where he was one of the faces of the league until 2018 when he would make a major decision.
In the summer of 2018, the Kings made a major splashing by signing Kovalchuk to a three-year contract worth $18.75M ($6.25 AAV). Although he was 35 at the time, the Kings were hoping he could provide a major offensive spark to a team that hadn't won a playoff series since they won the Stanley Cup in 2014.
Unfortunately, his time as a King didn't go as planned. After a season and a half, the Kings placed Kovalchuk on unconditional waivers. The Montréal Canadiens then claimed the veteran winger, ending Kovalchuk's time in Los Angeles at just 81 total games played. In those 81 games, he scored 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points.
After just 22 games in Montreal, the Canadiens traded Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals where he would play his last game in 2020 before returning to the KHL once again where he would finish out his playing career.
In 2025, the former first overall pick officially announced his retirement from professional hockey and he now finds himself in charge of turning around a lacklustre KHL franchise.
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